~Dreams of Fire Ch 9

The moment the door closed behind the brunette a deep pain filled his chest. His cerulean blue eyes glued to the floor as he pushed himself away from the door and headed down the halls. Humans and Demons of different species alike talking and working together amongst each other all around him, as turned a corner in hopes to escape from the pain in his chest. Of course the pain didn't stop when his gaze fell on a small group of demons. Two of which were wrapped up in each others arms and presence, while a smaller younger looking demon clung to the shorter of the pair. A whine leaving the little demon's lips all the while.

"Nii-san, I'm hungry. Can we get food?" The little demon asked, while gently tugging on what had to be his brother's shirt.

"Sure we can. Just stay close to me and don't let go of my hand." The shorter of the pair spoke, as he took the little demon's hand and the three of them walked past him.

The pain in his chest deepening all the while, before he headed down the hall a little faster than before. His heart pounding in his ears and his chest contracting on itself. The male making it a few good yards down the hall, before the hall suddenly opened up into a huge room. Hundreds of demons talking and conversing with one another, as little ones ran and played with one another. Families and friends close knit and friendly to anyone that passed by, as Yukio laid a hand on the wall beside him to keep himself standing straight up. His chest still in pain, as he tightly closed his eyes and ran a hand over his face. A migraine forming right in the back of his skull, before a pair of hands suddenly cupped the sides of his head and a soft glow reached his closed eyes.

The teen suddenly panicking, as his eyes flew open and he backed up. His gaze falling on a demon male around his age with a concerned look on his face. His bright green eyes filled with worry, as he reached out the help him once more and the teen flinched. Hurt instantly appearing in the teen's gaze, as those bright green orbs fell to the floor and his tail fell to a stop. The boy's throat visibly tightening, but no words coming out.

"Who are you and what were you doing?" Yukio demanded, his voice slightly harsh.

A visible flinch came from the teen demon as his tail wrapped around his leg. One of his hands rubbing against his upper arm, before he reached the hand out to touch him and Yukio stepped back. That very hand stilling for a moment, before it retreated without a second thought. Pure pain in the young demon's eyes, before he suddenly turned tail and ran. His figure disappearing into the crowded room in seconds, all the while leaving the brunette standing there in the hall like an idiot.

The pain from before heightening with vigor, as an image of the teen demon's back and his unconscious brother flashed before his eyes. His fingers tightening against the wall, his mind racing all the while.

Was it his fault Rin had gotten hit by that car? That he risked his life to save that young girl, because Yukio wasn't there to pull him back out of the way or save her himself? Was it his fault he was too closed off? Too protective of his own being or his feelings to let one demon get rid of the migraine still pounding in his skull? After all, that poor demon hadn't done a single thing to him. He was trying to help him, just like Rin had always done.

Rin had always been there for him when he was growing up. He beat up all the kids that ever tried to bully him, even if it was wrong to do so, and he had done it for Yukio. He had done it to keep him safe, keep him happy, and keep the bullies away from him so Yukio always had a smile on his face. And when the tears fell and Rin was near, everything went bad. His brother always got hurt because of him, but that never stopped that big goofy smile from stretching across his face and that light to appear in his eyes. Even till a few weeks ago Rin did everything to keep Yukio safe. Of course he made lunches and meals for them, but on every mission his half-demon brother was on he was always the first one into battle distracting all the demons while Yukio shot them down. Some people would call it stupid, but the brunette knew Rin did it to keep Yukio safe. To make sure the demons didn't come after his younger brother and injure him. Instead Rin took the beatings and the pain and never once did Yukio stop to thank him. Never once to he try to listen to his brother's problems like Rin did with his, and never once did he stop to think that Rin might need him just as much as Yukio needed his own brother.

And now. Now that he was standing in the American Branch in the vicinity of his unconscious and comatose brother, all he could ask was what went wrong. What brought them to this point? Where had Yukio's hate come from? And why didn't he open his eyes sooner? Rin had always needed him one way or another and right now he needed Yukio to be near him. To speak to him and to help ground him to reality, and he'd do everything he could to be that rock his brother needed very dearly.

Of course, by the time came to the realization, he hadn't realized the presence in front of him. His mind slowly coming back to the present and his gaze falling on the demonic teen from before. The boy holding tight to what looked like a medicine bottle and his bright green eyes glue to the floor. His tail tightly wound around his thigh and the pain from before still in his gaze, as he thrust his arm forward. The teen moving back a bit to avoid getting smacked with the demon's hand, before he noticed the medicine bottle in it. A bottle the teen took and turned over in his hands before he noticed it was aspirin. A look of realization coming onto the teen's features, before he looked up to speak to the teen and realized he was long gone. Nothing but a bottle of aspirin in the teen's palm to remind him the demon had been there.


"Yah look like shit. How's your shoulder holdin up?" Trey spoke as he sat down beside the white-haired demon.

"It's sore, but it's healing." Nekoyoma muttered, taking a sip of the tea he had been nursing for a while now.

"Tats good." The male spoke, his back against the table and gazing around at everyone in the vast cafeteria. "I heard what yah said back in Okumura's room. You're havin dreams wit him?"

"Yeah." Nekoyoma mutter after a moment of silence passed. "You going to tell me I'm delusional or something?"

"Nah, why would I do tat? There has ta be a reason you're seein him in your dreams-"

"His dreams." Nekoyoma interrupted, his eyes glued to what little tea was left in his mug. "I'm in Rin's dreams."

"Right."

A moment of silence fell over them as a pair of demons walked into the cafeteria with a little one in tow. The little demon hanging tight to his brother's shirt, as the male demon beside his older brother kept a firm arm around his waist and they went in search for an empty table. Nothing but love in their eyes as they weaved through the crowded space.

"Man, I wish Treav would let me hold him like tat." The male sighed, as he watched the trio disappear past a crowd of humans and demons.

"Yeah, well you're lucky to have found your mate." Nekoyoma spoke, glancing over at the male beside him. "And you're even luckier that he was beside you all along."

"True tat." Trey chuckled, before his eyes met Nekoyoma's. "Yah know, yah still have a chance ta find your mate. They have ta be out there somewhere waitin for yah."

"Yeah, but Rin needs me right now." The male spoke, his gaze falling to the table. "I have to pretend to be his mate so the Vatican doesn't take him away. If they take him he'll be killed by that demon and he's been through enough already."

A hand gently clasped around his shoulder in a caring gesture. The touch making the male turn his head and lock eyes with the male beside him. Nothing but understanding and pity in his eyes, as his fingers tightened around the male's shoulder.

"He's not tah only one tat's been though enough." Trey spoke. "Yah've been through a lot of shit over tah past few decades and yah've never fought back."

"What's the point o fight back when all it's going to do is put you in more trouble than before and put you're whole branch on the line?" Nekoyoma muttered, his eyes closing and he rubbed his forehead with the heel of his hand. "Scarlett has worked so hard to come to this point and she's finally starting her mating project. If I retaliate now I'll be putting everything she's done up till now in jeopardy. She doesn't deserve it, not after what she's been put through."

"So you're just gunna stay on tah side lines and watch?" Trey retorted as the male opened his eyes and glanced the demon beside him. "Yah've given up so much ta come ta this point. Now you're just gunna sit back and watch tah Vatican take over you're life? You're no better than Okumura."

"I know."

"Then do something about it!" Trey yelled, getting several glanced from the people around him. "Yah and tat kid have something, and if yah want ta protect him do it on your own terms. Don't let tah Vatican step all over yah. Take back what's yours."

A small smile ghosted over the male's lips as he clasped a hand over the male's shoulder beside him and stood up.

"Thanks Trey. I owe you one." Nekoyoma spoke, a smirk coming over the male's lips.

"Don't mention it. Yah've watched my back over tah years. I'm just repayin tah favor."

The smile that fell over the male's lips only grew wider as he turned and left the cafeteria. An image of Rin flashing before his eyes, as he walked down that hall. His deep navy blue hair a mess, his bright blue eyes glazed over with pain and loss, and his tail tightly wrapped around his waist as he gazed at him; his cheeks held firmly between the male's hands. In that very moment in Rin's dreamscape Nekoyoma had learned one thing as Rin's eyes locked with his. He was in love with him, the Son of Satan, and he had to protect him. Rin needed someone to hold onto and to reach out for and Nekoyoma needed to be there to grab hold of him and keep him close. And it didn't matter how long it took for the teen to wake up. Nekoyoma would stay beside him till the boy's body gave out, and even then he'd follow him onto death. Only for the sole fact that Rin needed him, and if no body else was going to be there for him, then Nekoyoma would.

Of course when he finally reached Rin's door and went to pull it open, a soft voice reached his ears. A voice that made Nekoyoma stop in his tracks right in front of the half-demon's door, as the voice reached the demon's hypersensitive ears.

"Nii-san, it's Yukio. I-…I'm sorry it took me so long to visit you. I…I've been a jerk lately. I thought I was too busy with classes and missions to visit you, but I was wrong. I-I just couldn't gather up the courage to come visit you. After all, it's my fault you're probably like this. I've been so hostile and angry toward you that I didn't realize I was hurting you, and for that I'm sorry. I was the one you always tried to protect and whenever you needed me I turned my back on you. But I've realized my mistake too late and you might not even wake up now. I-I'm so sorry, N-Nii-san. I-I wish I w-would've gotten hit by that c-car."

Silence reached the male's ears, before soft sobbing followed. A twinge of pain reaching the male's chest, before he gabbed the door handle and pushed the door open. The teen beside the half-demon's bed stiffening the moment the door opened and his tear stained eyes falling on Nekoyoma, before he hurriedly wiped away the tears rolling down his face and his gaze fell to the floor.

"I-I'm sorry. I was just about to leave." The teen mumbled, before Nekoyoma closed the door behind him and gave the teen a soft smile.

"No, it's fine. You're free to stay." The male spoke as he walked over and sat on the edge of Rin's bed. "I liked you're apology by the way. I hope Rin heard it."

"S-so do I." Yukio spoke softly, as he looked at his older brother. "I was treating Nii-san so terribly all this time and it only took me till today to realize what I had done. I don't know if he'll ever forgive me, but at least he'll know I realized my mistake."

"He'll forgive you." Nekoyoma spoke, as he gently took the half-demon's hand in his own and gently caressed his hand. "He's been worried about you, even if he won't say it. It's in his eyes."

"H-how is Nii-san by the way? You said he was afraid."

"He is." The male muttered, as the teen's eyes turned to gaze at him. "He's afraid he'll never wake up and he doesn't believe has anything left in this world to come back to. He doesn't want to be a weapon for the Vatican, but he's afraid if he retaliates they'll kill him. He just wants a normal life, but with what he's been thrown into it probably won't be possible anymore. The list might go on forever, but that's all I've been able to figure out. Even so, he needs you to stay beside him and not abandon him this time."

A nod was all that left the teen beside him as he turned and looked at his comatose brother. Nothing but the steady rise and fall of his chest and the beeping of the machines telling them he was alive. Yet just by looking at him he looked almost dead. Rin's skin was paler than ever before and almost rivaled white paper, his cheekbones were starting to become more prominent against his tight skin, and the hand in Nekoyoma's was so frail against his. And above everything Nekoyoma knew Rin didn't have much longer. There was only so much Drew could do was Rin's health and even now that thin line was teetering. The male wouldn't even be surprised if Rin had lost a good twenty-pounds since he got here. The kid had looked so healthy despite his comatose state, but now he was starting to look like a zombie.

"I'll find a way to wake up your brother." Nekoyoma spoke softly, gaining a glance from the teen beside him. "I promise."


"Get out."

"Well, that's no way to treat someone who made an appointment to speak with you."

A small growl left the female's throat as she glared at the man sitting in front of her desk. It hadn't even been five minutes ago that Kamiti interrupted her urgent talk with Drew over the new Nekoyoma revealed to tell her she had a visitor that had made an appointment with her. Of course the woman came back to her office without a complaint, but the moment she opened the door and saw the paladin smugly sitting in front of her desk she knew this was bad news. Angel always brought bad news and she'd celebrate when the ungrateful man died at the hands of god offal demon.

"What do you want?" Scarlett demanded, as she slammed her door behind her and angrily walked to her desk. Her tail lashing out behind her and harshly hitting the chair the paladin was sitting in, before she sat behind her desk.

"The Vatican would like to take Rin Okumura into their protective care." The paladin spoke all to calmly.

"I told you knuckle heads that you can't take him. He's enrolled in my mating program and he has a mate."

"Mate or not you have no right to keep him here. He's the Vaticans-"

"He's not the Vatican's property, nor is he ours." Scarlett growled. "But he is a half-demon and he has rights like every god damn being on this earth, and right now we're doing everything we can to keep him in a stable condition. If we move him now his health could be in jeopardy and I'm not letting a brother die on Assiah soil. Okumura is safer here than at the Vatican."

"Safe or not the Vatican demands Okumura be kept in it's walls."

"And I refuse that demand."

"And you have no choice in this matter. Several exorcists will be coming for Okumura within the hour and-"

"I said you can't take him! Do you have bugs in your brain! If you move him you risk the factor that he will die! Are you prepared to tell you're precious Gurigori that you let the Son f Satan die because you couldn't let him stay in the hands of capable demonic doctors that could keep him stable?! If you take the boy out of this Branch he will die within twenty-four hours and this is nowhere close to a threat!"

In the next moment the woman's office door flew open to reveal Nekoyoma. The male panting slightly and his hair an utter mess, as his ice blue eyes moved between the two of them and the paladin decided the ignore the other demon now entering the room.

"What the hell is going on here?" Nekoyoma demanded, as he closed the door behind him. "I could hear you all the way from the medical sector."

"Angel here wants to take Rin to the Vatican, and he's not taking no for an answer." Scarlett spoke, a slight edge to her tone as the male's eyes widened. His gaze falling onto the blonde male and a glare appearing on his features.

"But Rin is in the mating program."

"Whether Okumura has a mate or not does not concern the Vatican." Angel spoke, as a growl left Nekoyoma's throat. "I was ordered to bring Okumura into custody and return him to the Vatican to be watched over and protected."

"Well there's no way in Gehenna I'm letting you take him with you." Nekoyoma growled, as the man finally turned his head and glared at the demon.

"You have no choice in the matter either."

"I do if he's my mate." The white-haired demon growled, as the male's eyes widened slightly. "And unless you want yourself and the precious Vatican to be reduced to ice and dust, I suggest you back down. Because you're never laying a finger on him, not as long as I'm breathing."


"You're back."

A smile stretched across Nekoyoma's face the moment he found Rin waiting for him by the lake. His blue eyes filled with less pain than before, as Nekoyoma nodded and sat beside him. Their tails instantly wrapping around each other and a sense of comfort seeming to come over the younger's body. Something Nekoyoma was glad for, as he let the teen scoot closer to him and rest his head against the male's shoulder. Nothing but a gentle arm wrapping around the half-demon's waist, before Rin relaxed against him and Nekoyoma gazed down at the content half-demon.

He couldn't believe the Vatican was still trying to take Rin back, even after they said Rin was in the mating program and needed Drew medical care, but Nekoyoma didn't back down. He had taken Trey's words from earlier to heart and fought back against the paladin for Rin's right to stay. Although it turned out more like a threat, the male had seemed to get the idea and left with a message that he'd be back to speak with them again. No doubt to tell the Vatican the problem he had run into, before he tried to return against and try and worm Rin out of their grips. Of course Nekoyoma wasn't going to let that happen. He had been given the task to keep Rin safe and even if he loved him or not he was keeping the promise, because Rin was worth it.

"Ne-Nekoyoma."

"Yeah?"

With a bit of hesitation Rin looked up at him. A soft pink blush dusted across his cheeks as his tail tightened around the male's.

"Yukio came to visit me today." Rin spoke, the male's heart plummeting a little at the teen's words. "I was so happy when I heard his voice. I thought he hated me."

"He doesn't Rin. He was just confused and blind is all." The male spoke, as he gently messed up the teen's hair.

"Well it's thanks to you that Yukio opened his eyes." The half-demon spoke with a smile. "If you hadn't yelled at him he would've never come to visit me."

"So you heard that, huh?"

"You were yelling, how could I not hear it?" A small chuckle came from the two of them, before Rin looked back up at him. The blush from before a little more prominent than before. "I also heard what you said to me."

A small moment of silence fell over them, as Rin snuggled into his side and Nekoyoma tightened his grip around the teen's hip.

"And?"

"And I wanted you to know that I've fallen for you too." Rin spoke, their tails tightening around one another. "I love you Nekoyoma."

"As do I."


Scarlett: *waves happily* Hey my cute little fans! I said I'd have the chapter to you today and here it is! I even hit over 3k words! I haven't gotten over 2k since the start of this story! :) Anyway! Here's the new chapter, i hope you enjoy this one like all the rest.

Akane: *leaning on reading rough draft* Who's the demon kid?

Scarlett: *shrugs* Don't know, but that's for the fans to decide. They're making the story, I just threw him in for fun.

Akane: *frowns* hm

Scarlett: *messes up his hair* Anyway, I can't wait for you're reviews like always. If you have any chapter ideas they are due this Friday. I'll post the poll whenever on Friday, since my move out day/time to head home is up in the air. So be prepared to submit ideas before Friday. *drastically bows* Till Friday my fans!


For more information and Updates about my fanfictions, coming straight from me, visit my author page and look under the Progression and Important Information section. I have updates about my current Ao no Exorcist fanfictions and a new ones that are going to be posted in the future.


Rin does not belong to me. He belongs to Kazue Kato.

Nekoyoma, however, belongs to me. No stealing unless you ask for permission to use him!